Regions Hospital staff found no remains of a missing stillborn baby during an "additional examination" Saturday, April 20, of the same Red Wing laundry service where a male stillborn was discovered in soiled linens sent there last week, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The second stillborn, at 19 weeks gestation and unknown gender, reportedly was included in the same linen container that carried a 22-week stillborn baby from the St. Paul hospital 45 miles southeast to Crothall Laundry Services.

The hospital reported the first stillborn in a news conference Wednesday, and the second came to light in a news release from the hospital Friday.

The hospital was hopeful its search Saturday would recover the remains of the second stillborn, which might weigh about 1 pound.

"We wanted to review and inspect the laundry to ensure that we were satisfied with our efforts," said Vince Rivard, spokesman with Regions Hospital.

Rivard said the hospital continues to assist with investigations led by the the Minnesota Department of Health and St. Paul police.

"We are continuing to investigate the incident," spokeswoman Elizabeth Nicklos said in an email.

Regions Hospital said Sunday that they have completed a review of pathology records for the past year and "all other stillborn remains have been properly accounted for," Nicklos said.

About 2,500 babies are born at the hospital each year, with about two stillborns a month, the hospital said.

St. Paul police said it has no update on its side of the investigation.

Advertisement

"We are looking into it," police spokesman Howie Padilla said Sunday.

The stillborns belong to two separate families, and their identities have not been disclosed to "protect their privacy," Nicklos said.

Nicklos did not say if the families were planning legal challenges against the hospital in regard to the handling of the remains.

The hospital has said it will "implement new processes to keep this from happening again," Nicklos said. The steps disclosed late last week include an improved identification process to ensure a clear visual investigation, an enhanced tracking process and an added level of security and supervision.